Daylighting

Making crosswalks safer through improved visibility

What is "daylighting" and why is it important?

"Pedestrian daylighting" (or just "daylighting") is a proven strategy to make crosswalks safer by pushing parked vehicles back away from crosswalks to improve visibility. Effective January 1, 2025, California Vehicle Code 22500(n) will go into effect, making it illegal to park, stop or stand within twenty feet on the approach side of a marked or unmarked crosswalk. This new regulation is the result of Assembly Bill 413, which was adopted by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2023.

How does "daylighting" work?

AB 413 prohibits parking within 20 feet of an unmarked or marked crosswalk or 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension or “bulb out” is present. The image below illustrates how the new regulation works. Twenty feet is about the length of one full-size parking space. The new regulation will be enforceable without any signs or red paint.

pedestrian daylighting graphic credit City of Pinole

Intersection with both marked and unmarked crosswalks, illustrating how the new parking regulations improve visibility and pedestrian safety by pushing vehicles back away from crosswalks by about one car length. Image credit, City of Pinole.

Daylighting is a proven and recommended best practice for improving traffic safety, particularly for pedestrians (see recommendations from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) here)

How is "daylighting" being implemented in Oakland?

Improving pedestrian safety has been a top priority for OakDOT since it was established in 2017 and designing and improving crosswalks for improved pedestrian visibility has been a standard practice for many years.

Since the passage of AB 413 in 2023, project crews have been adding red curbs to support daylighting whenever possible and will continue to do so going forward.

In summer of 2025, City Council adopted Ordinance 13854 establishing a $40.00 fine for California Vehicle Code 22500(n) and Parking Enforcement started to distribute windshield flyers to educate drivers. Beginning October 1, 2025 enforcement of the new regulation will begin. Vehicles will receive a warning for first time violation through the month of October, after which normal enforcement will ensue.

For additional details about the history of daylighting and to learn how San Francisco is implementing AB 413, click here.